The Recovery of Crassus’ Lost Standards

273, Lot: 413. Estimate $300. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (25mm, 11.34 g, 12h). Pergamum mint. Struck circa 19-18 BC. Bare head right / Signum within round tetrastyle temple. RIC I 507; Sutherland Group VII; RPC I 2220; RSC 202. Fine, toned.

This issue was struck to commemorate the recovery of Augustus of the standards lost by Crassus to the Parthians. The standard seen here is housed in a small temple that was located on the Capitoline and which served as a temporary home for the standards until the completion of the temple to Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus.